Husband and Wife are in “Home Depot” shopping for a widget for their broken thingamajig. They’re taking advantage of the errand to spend a bit of quality time together. Truth be told Husband is enjoying the outing a bit more than Wife since he is interested in looking at some of the items in the store and she isn’t. Nonetheless Wife likes strolling up and down the aisles just to have a pleasant break in her routine and be alone with her husband.
Finally they come to the widget aisle where they pause to select the proper size and style widget for their needs. Actually Husband is pausing to make this selection. Wife is feeling impatient with the process and would like to move on. Finally in exasperation over how long it is taking her husband to make this choice she bursts out: “This isn’t rocket science! Just pick one already!” Feeling insulted and embarrassed (he’s sure that people further down the aisle have overheard his wife’s remark) Husband is no longer in a pleasant mood. He grabs both widgets heads to the cashier and without saying a further word to Wife heads toward the car.
Wife feeling mistreated tries to remedy the situation by “educating” Husband. “A little oversensitive aren’t you?” she begins. Somehow this doesn’t achieve the desired result. Noticing she isn’t getting anywhere she tries harder: “Can’t I say anything to you? Is everything such a big deal? You’re going to stop talking to me because I asked you to hurry up? Do I have to tiptoe around you and think through every little word I utter? Well let me tell you something — I’m not about to do that! You need to grow up!” By this time they’re in the car together heading for home. The evening is ruined.
Don’t Tell It Like It Is
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